Wearing Braces

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s important for you to know how to properly care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Eating with Braces

Before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Foods to avoid with Braces

Chewy foods — bagels, licorice

Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice

Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum

Hard foods — nuts, hard candies

Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods you Can Eat with Braces

Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks

Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts

Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice

Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats

Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes

Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans

Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice

Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Soreness cause from Braces and Appliances

When you first get your braces you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes, ensuring you don’t swallow the saltwater.

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks after application as they begin to toughen and become used to the braces. We are happy to provide you with mouth wax which you can apply over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.

Loose Teeth

If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don’t worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.

Loose Wires and Bands

The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the practice with you.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon, or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.

Take Care of your Appliances

Damaged orthodontic appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.

Playing Sports with Braces

We have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even whilst undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and appliance for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our practice right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.

About Us

Dr. Paul Healy and his staff maintain two ultra-modern, comfortable offices in Hobart and Launceston, Tasmania for your convenience. We offer a professional and personalised experience for everyone who comes to our practice.